Several people looked carefully at the ruby ​​on the golden mask and soon discovered that there was indeed something wrong.

For most gemstones, the bigger the better, and the fewer inclusions inside, the better. However, this ruby ​​is quite large, but the inside is not particularly clean, and some inclusions like color paste can be faintly seen.

"Is this a fake pigeon blood ruby? Has it been burned or colored?" Kunsha asked.

In the past, rubies were heated to reduce the inclusions inside them, making the color of the rubies more beautiful.

This heat-treated ruby ​​is called heated ruby, and the ruby ​​that has not been heated is called unheated ruby.

Heated rubies are not considered fake, but their value is much lower than unheated rubies. There are also unscrupulous merchants who sell heated rubies as unheated rubies, which is considered fake.

As for processing such as coloring, that is real fraud and an extremely bad behavior.

How could such a precious golden mask be topped with such a ruby ​​rich in mineral content? So Kunsha thought it was a fake ruby, and the ruby ​​originally on the golden mask might have been replaced by someone.

Who knew Shalai shook his head and said, "No, this is a real ruby, and it's a pigeon blood ruby. The current standard for pigeon blood red is that the cleaner the better, but in the era of that ancient country, real pigeon blood red was like this."

"Does that ancient country have such low standards for pigeon blood red?" Kunsha asked in surprise.

“You are wrong. The standard at that time was not low. On the contrary, it was very high. Don’t think that any inclusions and color bands can be called pigeon blood ruby.” Shalai said, taking out his mobile phone, turning on the flashlight function of the phone, and shining it on the ruby ​​on the golden mask.

Several people were surprised to find that under the light, the ruby's magma-like color actually presented the effect of flowing fireworks.

The horse-eye-shaped ruby ​​was glowing with red light, like a burning flame.

"The legend says that the princess bride already had a lover, but was forced by the emperor to marry a powerful noble. On the wedding day, she jumped into the raging fire wearing a golden bride mask, defending her love and dignity with her own life. After the fire was extinguished, people only found the golden bride mask in the ashes. The originally pure ruby ​​on the mask became like this. Later, the pigeon blood red standard of that ancient country also became this. Only this kind of ruby ​​can be called pigeon blood red in that ancient country, representing the top ruby." Shalai stroked the golden mask and said, "Although it is just a legend, it is hard to say whether there is a golden bride mask and the princess, but the ruby ​​on it is indeed priceless and cannot be compared with ordinary pigeon blood rubies."

After hearing this, Li Xiu understood why Qin Shi had a high fever.

But Li Xiu still didn’t quite understand why Qin Shi had a princess mask and why she collected rubies.

Although the ruby ​​on the princess's mask is precious and the story behind it is very sad and touching, in terms of the legendary nature of the story, the Diamond of Doom is no less than it.

Why can I contract the Diamond of Doom, but be resisted by this Ruby?

Qin Shi's high fever did not subside and his body temperature was still rising slowly. If this continued, he would be ill in a few days. If he could not make a contract with the ruby, Qin Shi would be beyond help.

In fact, Li Xiu was very skeptical. Even if Qin Shi was rescued now, her brain might have been burned out.

How can an ordinary human body withstand the high temperature of over 50 degrees?

Li Xiu reached out and took the golden bride mask from Shalai's hand, and then directly picked out the ruby.

"No, the price will be higher if this thing is sold together with the golden mask." Shalai said with some heartache.

Li Xiu ignored him, turned around and put the golden mask back into the box. At the same time, he quietly put the ruby ​​into his mouth and swallowed it.

Since blood is not useful, we can only use the original one.

Li Xiu forced himself to swallow the ruby. Fortunately, his body had been strengthened enough, otherwise it would have been difficult to swallow such a big ruby.

What's more, this ruby ​​has pointed ends, and if ordinary people swallow it, it might scratch their esophagus.

After swallowing the ruby, Li Xiu suddenly felt as if he had swallowed a ball of fire, and felt a burning sensation in his stomach.

Li Xiu's mind moved, and white fluorescence emanated from his body. That was the light energy from the forbidden spear.

With the help of light energy, Li Xiu suddenly felt the burning sensation in his stomach alleviated a lot and slowly eased.

As the burning sensation in the stomach eased, everyone was surprised to find that Qin Shi's high temperature also began to slowly drop.

"Li Xiu, you can do this. Is this the light of your symbiotic contract? It can even save people and cure diseases?" Shalai looked at Li Xiu in amazement and asked.

"I can't save ordinary people, and I can't cure ordinary diseases. I just happen to be able to help Qin Shi." Li Xiu didn't want to chat with Sha Lai.

Although the burning sensation in the stomach had disappeared, the ruby ​​did not turn into a magic ring and appear on Li Xiu's finger. It seemed that it had not been completely tamed.

What Li Xiu did was more effective than special-effect antipyretic drugs. In just a short while, Qin Shi's fever subsided and her body temperature quickly returned to normal.

"I'm so thirsty..." Qin Shi miraculously woke up from a coma. Her brain didn't seem to be burned out, but she looked very weak and her face was pale, like Lin Daiyu who was seriously ill. It was very different from her usual appearance.

Several people were busy pouring water for Qin Shi and bringing him some porridge. Qin Shi drank some water and ate some porridge. His mental state was obviously much better, and he could at least sit up by himself.

"Li Xiu, why are you back?" Qin Shi was a little surprised when she saw Li Xiu.

"If Li Xiu hadn't come back, you would have lost your life." Kunsha recounted what happened.

Qin Shi was fine at first, but when she heard Li Xiu took out her golden bride mask, her face suddenly changed.

"You guys go out first, I have something to say to Li Xiu." Qin Shi said, biting her lip.

"What is it that Li Xiu can listen to but we can't?" Sha Lai teased.

"I want to talk to Qin Shi for a few words, and we'll reminisce later." Li Xiu knew what Qin Shi wanted to say, and said to Sha Lai.

"Okay, I'll go ask someone to prepare wine and food." Sha Lai obeyed Li Xiu's orders and immediately turned around and left.

When Kunsha finally went out, he was considerate enough to close the door.

As soon as they left, Qin Shi immediately took the box and opened it. Although the golden mask was still inside, the ruby ​​on it was gone. His face suddenly turned even paler.

"What have you done with the ruby?" Qin Shi looked at Li Xiu and asked, biting her pale lips.

"If I don't get rid of it, can you get better?" Li Xiu was a little surprised. It seemed that Qin Shi knew that her illness was related to the magic gem. He just didn't know how much she knew and whether she knew about the magic gem.

"It's over, it's all over." Qin Shi's face was ashen, and he muttered to himself.

"What's going on? If you believe in me, you can tell me, maybe I can help you." Li Xiu said.

"You can't help me." Qin Shi's face was full of bitterness, but she continued: "Do you know why I have been collecting rubies all these years?"

"Could it be related to that ruby?" Li Xiu followed her words.

Qin Shi nodded: "That's about right. I collect those rubies to feed the princess's golden mask."

"Feed?" Li Xiu was a little confused about this word.

How is she going to feed the ruby ​​since it hasn't turned into a demon spirit yet?

Qin Shi sighed and told the whole story.

Qin Shi's father is also a magic costume master, but he is not very outstanding. He is just an ordinary E-level magic costume master, kind of cannon fodder.

In a battle with evil spirits, Qin Shi's father was unfortunately killed.

It was only natural for the magic armor master to die at the hands of the evil spirit.

But later Qin Shi found out that the reason her father died was because he was deliberately abandoned by the commander. It was because her father had offended the commander. So when fighting with the evil spirits, the commander who should have issued a retreat order deliberately did not issue a retreat order to Qin Shi's father, which led to the death of Qin Shi's father.

Qin Shi learned the truth of the matter, but had no ability to seek justice for her father. She had to leave her hometown to avoid being persecuted by the commander again.

Although Qin Shi also has the talent of a magic costume artist, she has no financial resources or support from major forces, and lacks systematic training. She can only rely on a spare set of E-level magic costumes left by her father and take on some private jobs to make a living.

He couldn't even get a set of high-level magic armor, let alone seek justice for his father.

Until one day, Qin Shi took a job and joined a team of gem hunters to explore the ruins of an ancient city.

Among the ruins of the city, they discovered the remains of an ancient palace, where the Princess Bride's golden mask was found.

While discovering the Princess Bride's golden mask, the Gem Hunters were attacked by evil spirits and the entire team was killed.

The magic suit left by Qin Shi's father was also destroyed in that battle. At that time, Qin Shi thought he was dead.

Strangely, the evil spirit took one look at Qin Shi who fell to the ground, and did not give her the final fatal blow. It just turned around and left.

When Qin Shi came to her senses, she crawled out of the tattered magic costume and found that the golden mask was pressed under her body. It was covered with her blood. The ruby ​​on the golden mask was shining with a strange brilliance like flame and blood.

Ever since Qin Shi got the golden mask, things suddenly became much smoother. He was able to escape danger every time he took on private work, and soon made a lot of money.

But Qin Shi soon discovered a serious problem. The rubies on the gold mask would become very hot after a period of time, sometimes so hot that they could burn her hands.

Only when the ruby ​​and the golden mask are placed together will its temperature slowly decrease, and the ruby ​​placed together with the golden mask will disappear out of thin air after a while.

Since then, Qin Shi has been using rubies to feed the golden mask. She has also tried to sell the golden mask and even bury it.

But once she leaves the golden mask, many unfortunate things will happen around her. Until she gets the golden mask back, those unfortunate things will stop happening, and then she will start to become successful again.

For so many years, Qin Shi has been using rubies to feed the golden mask, but the golden mask's appetite has been growing.

At the beginning, an ordinary one-carat ruby ​​could satisfy it, but later, ordinary rubies could no longer satisfy it, and it had to have high-quality rubies.

In the past two years, gems of pigeon blood red quality are needed to cool down the rubies on the golden mask. This is why she only accepts pigeon blood rubies as compensation.

Qin Shi also thought of many ways to solve the problem of the golden mask, and she also found out the origin of the golden mask.

In the area where the ancient country once existed, Qin Shi learned a legend about the princess's mask from an old man.

The woman wearing the princess mask must find a man she truly loves in order to break the curse of the golden mask.

Otherwise, the golden mask will continue to haunt the host until the host dies.

Before the curse is lifted, if the golden mask is damaged, the host will also suffer misfortune.

Qin Shi had already experienced the misfortune brought to her by the golden mask. Not to mention damaging the mask, even abandoning it would bring misfortune.

Now that Li Xiu has destroyed the gem on the golden mask, Qin Shi thinks he is in big trouble.

Qin Shi was not afraid of death, she was just afraid that she would die before she could seek justice for her father.

"Don't worry, with me here, you won't encounter any misfortune again." Li Xiu knew very well in his heart that Qin Shi's misfortune was not because of the golden mask, but because of the evil spirit in the ruby.

Now the ruby ​​has been swallowed by him. Although it has not yet been transformed into a magic ring, it has been suppressed. Qin Shi should not be affected by it in the future.

Of course, Li Xiu is not yet completely sure whether Qin Shi is completely unaffected, so he plans to let Qin Shi stay with him for a while so that he can continue to observe. After all, this ruby ​​is the first magic gem that has not been directly contracted by him.

After hearing what Li Xiu said, Qin Shi's pale cheeks turned slightly red, and she obviously misunderstood what he meant.

She just told Li Xiu that she must find a man she truly loves in order to break the curse of the golden mask.

Li Xiu now told Qin Shi with certainty that as long as he was around, Qin Shi would no longer encounter misfortune.

What else could this be but a confession? Li Xiu was hinting to her that he was the man Qin Shi truly loved.

"Just in case, you should follow me for the time being," Li Xiu said to Qin Shi.

"I understand." Qin Shi said with her head down. Her face was very red and her heart was beating very fast. She was a little afraid to look at Li Xiu.

Li Xiu didn't see Qin Shi's expression. Seeing her lower her head, he thought she was tired, so he said, "You should rest first and come back with me tomorrow."

"Isn't it too fast?" Qin Shi was a little flustered: "Do I have to confirm my relationship with him so soon? Is this too fast? We don't seem to know each other very well... But if the curse is really lifted... It means that he really loves me... Even so, it's a little too fast... What if he wants to do something with me... What should I do..."

"There's no other way. I have a lot of things to do over there, so I can't stay here for too long. I can only take you back. The conditions over there are a bit difficult. If you don't mind, you can sleep in my room. The bed and furniture were left by the previous city lord. They are all high-end items. The bed is big and soft." Li Xiu said.

"How can that be..." Qin Shi's heartbeat became even faster, and she couldn't help but complain in her heart: "How can you say such things to me? Do I look like a casual woman?"

Seeing Qin Shi's expression, Li Xiu immediately realized that what he said seemed to be a little ambiguous, so he smiled and said, "No problem, you sleep in my room and I can sleep in the guest room."

Qin Shi realized she had misunderstood after hearing this, and felt a little embarrassed. Just when she was about to say something, before she could open her mouth, she heard Li Xiu continue: "Of course, if you are not used to sleeping alone, I can also risk my life to accompany you, but I have to make it clear in advance that you can only talk, not touch me. You can chat, but if you have other requests... you will have to pay extra..."

"Get out!" Qin Shi's previous hint of apology suddenly turned into shame and anger, and she grabbed a pillow and threw it at Li Xiu.

"Get out of here now and have a good rest." Li Xiu took the pillow, placed it gently on the side of the bed, turned around and left Qin Shi's room, closing the door from the outside.

"Could this person really be the one who can lift the curse of the princess' mask for me?" Qin Shi looked at the closed door with a complicated expression. She didn't move for a long time, and no one knew what she was thinking.

Shalai had already prepared wine and food for Li Xiu. Kunsha and Pashan were also sitting there. Although they hadn't seen each other for many days, they didn't feel strange at all. They were having a great time drinking, eating meat and chatting.

"Li Xiu, are you interested in going to the trial field with me? My luck has been really bad lately. I have entered the trial field no less than twenty times during this period, but I haven't gotten a single admission ticket. I still haven't become a real trial-taker." Shalai had drunk a little too much and said with his arm around his shoulder.

"Which trial field? The Crazy Ball Trial Field?" Li Xiu immediately became interested when he heard Shalai mention the trial field. Apart from the Black Death City, he had never been to other trial sites. If he was lucky enough to get an admission ticket, he could see other trial sites.

"No, the Crazy Ball Trial Field is not suitable for me. I am more suitable for wilder trials. Recently, I have been to the Boxing Trial Field, which is much more interesting than the Crazy Ball Trial Field." Shalai laughed.

"The Boxing King Trial Field, I don't think I've heard of it before. What are the rules?" Li Xiu had never heard of this trial field when he was in Taro City.

"Rules? There are no rules at all. The only rule is to see who has the harder fist..." Shalai said with shining eyes: "That thing is much more interesting than playing football. There are not so many rules and regulations. Just do it."